So LeGarrette Blount coughs the ball up once in while like he did during a key early drive Sunday against the Seahawks.

Big deal.

The man is a truck with wings.

Good luck stopping him, New Orleans.

Blount gutted Seattle for 164 yards on 18 carries and is now leading rookies running backs with 941 yards in just 12 games.

Who could possibly decide now between Blount and Mike Williams for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year? Williams has been there all season, but Blount has had the greater impact. Brutally tough choice.

Yes, New Orleans pistol whipped the Bucs months ago in Tampa. But the Saints didn’t have No. 27 to contend with. Imagine the reality that Blount was inactive for that game. Amazing.

The Bucs will need Blount, now averaging 5.2 yards per carry, to be his very best Sunday in New Orleans to get in the playoffs.

Attention all Bucs horndogs: Tonight at 11:15 p.m. you will want to tune in to the great Dan Lucas’ show on WFLA-TV Channel 8. The world famous Lucas will have a special show this evening. He is scheduled to have the lovely Tiffany Jimenez (pictured) along with fellow Bucs cheerleader Jennifer Summers live in studio.

But why you ask? Why have cheerleaders live in the studio when it’s cold out rather than when it’s warm when they are wearing minimal clothing? Joe will tell you why:

Today was somber for Joe and many others. Yes, Joe was giddy over the Bucs win but it marked the last time Jamie Hanna, Tiffany (one of Joe’s personal favorites) and Summers will grace the Bucs sidelines as cheerleaders.

The new Bucs cheerleader regime has enacted a cap on how long someone can serve as a Bucs cheerleader. The aforementioned lovely ladies are over that cap. Hence, it’s sort of a forced retirement.

So Lucas will console Tiffany and Jennifer tonight.

So the Bucs finally got a laugher at just the right time. Now Team Raheem is 9-6 after clobbering another bad club.

The Bucs were smokin’ today with Josh Freeman having a career day, going 21-for-26 for 237 yards and five touchdowns. LeGarrett Blount was dominant, as were Mike Williams and Kellen Winslow rewarded for some superior route running.

The defense held very tough, and Seattle was wonderfully impotent in its passing game.

Joe is so fired up for tomorrow night. The Saints MUST lose in Atlanta for the Bucs to stay alive in the playoff hunt and play a meaningful game in January.

Joe will have so much more through the night.  And please make plans to get fired up with Joe and other Bucs fans Monday night at Honey’s in Carrollwood. Joe’s buying the first 50 beers.

Week 15
Seahawks at Bucs
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m.
TV: Blacked out locally. Those living outside the Tampa/Orlando TV markets can watch the game on DirecTV 714. The game can be viewed for free on NFL.com at midnight via Game Rewind (free registration required).
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 113.
Weather: Per Accuweather.com, this is a day for LeGarrette Blount. Temperature at kickoff is expected to be 49 with a howling wind from the northwest at 17 mph. The winds are expected to die down slightly as the game progresses but so too will the temperatures, which could dip below 40 by the final gun.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Bucs -6.5.
Outlook: There’s no sugar-coating this or no need to: Though last week for all intents and purposes, the numbing loss to the rebuilding since 1957 Detroit Lions effectively knocked the Bucs out of the playoffs, a loss at home to the dreadful Seahawks will seal the deal. Whatever slim chance the Bucs have of making the playoffs will be gone with a loss today. It’s that simple. This is a day for LeGarrette Blount. The winds are screaming out of the northwest which makes passing with the not-always precision touch of Josh Freeman secondary. It’s cold. The weather is more like a Big Ten game in November. Ground and pound. LeGarrette Blount. No more excuses about how he can’t hold onto the ball, which are unfounded. No more excuses that he can’t pick up blitzes, which are founded. This is a day not to pass but to beat your opponent into submission. Yes, the best way to beat the Seahawks with the Bucs M*A*S*H unit of a defense would be to air the ball out. Weather conditions make that concept impotent.
Video: The good people of the NFL Network have a game preview. … Slur-hurling Trey Wingo, Mark Schlereth and Marcellus Wiley of BSPN break down the game. …
Fun facts: Mike Williams has the most touchdown receptions of any Bucs rookie. … Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch has four scores in his last three games. … Kellen Winslow’s has a consecutive streak of 74 games catching a pass. … Seattle safety Earl Thomas has five picks.

Joe recently had the fortune of chatting with Bucs rookie wide receiver Arrelious Benn, a cat who is quickly becoming one of Joe’s favorites.

JoeBucsFan: You made a stiff arm play against the Lions that was one of the most vicious Joe has ever seen. You didn’t just stiff-arm the guy. You threw him down. Where did you learn that?

Arrelious Benn: That is something I always did back in high school. That’s one of my traits.

Joe: It seems like every game you are more and more involved in the offense. Tell Joe how that is good for you and good for the team.

Benn: It’s great. They’re finding ways for me to get the ball in my hands. I’m doing everything I can do to help the team as far as going out and making plays.

Joe: Since you’ve been in involved more in the offense and you’re getting the ball more, can you tell if defenses are playing you any different?

Benn: Oh, yeah. Definitely. I am a presence now. They know I am out there. They know, “Hey, this is a guy that can make a big play.”

Joe: Now can you tell, because of that, defenses are pulling pressure off of Mike Williams or pulling coverage off of Kellen Winslow to make sure you are covered?

Benn: Yeah, when you have three guys — Mike, Kellen and myself — that you want to look at, you can double-team just one. There are only so many defenders.

Barrett Ruud is durable. He’s a tackle machine. And some games he’s damn near perfect, so he claims.

Ruud chatted with St. Pete Times Bucs beat writer, frequent radio analyst and sometimes Twitterer Rick Stroud about all the negativity surrouding about his play. Stroud notes Ruud is familiar with the beating he takes on sports radio and online.

At the close of the feature, Stroud quotes Ruud illustrating why he finds the criticism way off base.

“I just read in one of the newspapers … that I was listed as one of the disappointments on defense. I just got out of my meeting and had 11 tackles, including two for a loss, and graded out perfect.

“I guess I’ll just have to do better.”

Whatever Ruud’s grades, Joe knows the Bucs can do better and certainly should try. 

Ruud is not the player he was two years ago. And he’s in the middle of a run defense that only has shown flickers of life over the past 34 games. Enough already. 

Joe wonders where Mark Dominik planned to play Jonathan Vilma when the Bucs pursued him in free agency prior to the 2009 season.

UPDATE: 9:27 a.m. – Joe’s bumping up this post from Monday so you know who to root for and against today.  

On Monday morning, Joe started the hard labor of figuring out all the scenarios that would put the Bucs in the playoffs. But Joe’s brain started to explode, so Joe’s very glad that video guru Scott Smith at Buccaneers.com did the heavy lifting.

Joe advises you check it out via the link above. Each scenario comes with an explanation.

This is the most plausible scenario:

SCENARIO #2: 

Tampa Bay wins the second Wild Card berth with:

 1)      TB win vs. SEA in Week 16 AND

2)      TB win at NO in Week 17 AND

3)      NO loss at ATL in Week 16 AND

4)      NYG win at GB in Week 16 OR

5)      GB loss vs. CHI in Week 17.

The Bucs have a solid shot at this.

Of course, reading all this made Joe want to puke thinking about what better position the Bucs would be in had they beat the ugly Lions on Sunday.

Now Joe is sure all his readers fly to Vegas to wager legally, versus placing bets with the guy whose cell number changes every week. 

Regardless of how or why you wager, Joe knows there are many aspiring handicappers reading. So to please the gambling crowd, Joe has turned to superpicker Bob Fox. A writer for various sports publications over the years, Fox flashed his stellar picking skills back in 2008 on JoeBucsFan.com, when Joe had a contest here among sports media members.

Fox gives you a few games every week. To date, Fox is 36-23 on the season.

By BOB FOX
JoeBucsFan.com analyst

St. Louis Rams 20, San Francisco 49ers 17

Somebody has to win the putrid NFC West, and the game between the 5-9 San Francisco 49ers and the 6-8 St. Louis Rams in St. Louis will be a key factor as to actually wins the NFC West “title.” The Rams have lost two games in a row, plus lost 23-20 in OT the last time these two teams played in San Francisco. But the Niners have lost two out of three and looked absolutely horrible against the Chargers last week. The Rams aren’t overwhelming, as they are only ranked 25th in the NFL in total offense and 17th in total defense, but they do have RB Steven Jackson, who is having another nice year. Rookie QB Sam Bradford has also looked pretty good with 17 TD passes,compared to 14 INTs for 3,065 yards. Bradford is better than any QB that the Niners will put out on the field. This week the 49ers are starting Troy Smith after going back to Alex Smith for a couple of weeks. San Francisco has a nice defense (ranked 13th in the NFL), and also has a weapon in TE Vernon Davis, but the season ending hip injury a couple weeks back to RB Frank Gore has really hurt the Niners’ offense, which is only ranked 26th anyway. I see the Rams winning a close one at home in a matchup of two very mediocre teams.

Oakland Raiders 27, Indianapolis Colts 24

This game has huge playoff repercussions. The Colts (8-6) are tied for first in the AFC South with the Jaguars, after beating the Jags at home last week. Da Raiders (7-7) are two games behind Kansas City in the AFC West, but the Chiefs have a tough game this week vs. the Tennessee Titans at home, and then the Raiders and Chiefs square off next week in Kansas City. Oakland won their first meeting 23-20 in OT. Also lurking in the AFC West is the 8-6 San Diego Chargers, who the Raiders have beaten twice this year. The Chargers have two road games to finish the season, in Cincinnati today and then in Denver next week. This game brings in an invigorated Colts team led by QB Peyton Manning. The Colts are ranked fourth in total offense, and first in passing. The Indianapolis defense is ranked 19th, and also 27th against the run. The Raiders hope to take advantage of the Colts problems stopping the run as they will be led by RB Darren McFadden, who is having a monster year (1,588 total yards and 10 TDs). Overall, the Raiders are ranked eighth in the NFL in total offense and second in rushing. Defensively, the Raiders are ranked 11th and also fifth in passing defense. The crowd will be boisterous and rabid in Oakland, as I see the Raiders winning a close one behind the leg of K Sebastian Janikowski.

Green Bay Packers 24, New York Giants 20

Buccaneers nation will be watching the game between the 9-5 New York Giants and the 8-6 Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field very closely. The Giants can clinch a playoff spot with a win, while the Packers can also move a step closer to the playoffs with a win. If the Pack wins out vs. the G-Men and the Chicago Bears next week, also in Green Bay, the Packers will clinch a spot in the NFC playoffs. The Giants imploded last week in New Jersey losing a game to the Eagles when they choked away a 24 point lead in the fourth quarter and gave up fourt TDs, including a 65 yard punt return to DeSean Jackson as time ran out. The Giants come into this game obviously mentally wounded, but they are still very dangerous, both offensively and defensively, as New York is ranked third on both sides of the ball. The Packers almost beat the Patriots in Foxborough last week behind backup QB Matt Flynn, but came up short at the end. This week, however, QB Aaron Rodgers returs after missing last week due to a concussion. The Packers are ranked 11th in the NFL in total offense and seventh in total defense. Rodgers will have to be very cognizant of the Giant defense, as the G-Men have a reputation for taking out opposing QBs. Ask Tony Romo. Still, I like the Packers chances in this one at home, as it is a do-or-die situation, while the Giants can still clinch a playoff spot next week with a win against Washington. I see Rodgers as the difference maker in this battle.

Atlanta Falcons 24, New Orleans Saints 21

With a win, the Falcons (12-2) can clinch the NFC South division, plus home field advantage in the NFC throughout the playoffs. However, if the Saints win, they clinch a playoff spot, plus still have a shot at winning the NFC South. As much as they hate to say it, Bucs Nation has to be rooting for the Dirty Birds in this one. The Bucs will play the Saints (10-4) next week in New Orleans, and hopefully that game will still mean something for the Bucs to earn a Wild Card in the NFC playoffs. But first things first. This game should be a war. The Falcons won the first game between these two teams earlier in the year 27-24 in OT. Atlanta is undefeated a home this year, but has come close to losing a number of those games. The Falcons are ranked 12th in total offense behind QB Matt Ryan and RB Michael Turner. On defense, Atlanta is ranked 14th. The Saints are led by QB Drew Brees who has the Saints sixth in total offense, including third in passing. The Saints defense is somewhat underrated, but it is ninth in total defense, including fourth in pass defense. The Saints struggle a bit vs. the run (ranked 19th), so expect to see a heavy dose of Turner by the Birds. I see the Saints going all out for a win, but I still see the Falcons sneaking away with another win at home.

Derek “Old School” Fournier of WhatTheBuc.net discusses how the playoffs are already here. Why? Because if the Bucs lose, it’s all over folks.

Seattle Times scribe Joshua Mayers has a piece today about the young Bucs and all sorts of glowing comments from Pete Carroll and multiple Seahawks.

And Mayers dropped a stat Joe had never seen before.

Apparently LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams could become the first teammates to lead their rookies class in rushing and receiving since the free love days. 

Blount and Williams could be the first teammates since 1968 to lead the league in rookie rushing yards and rookie receiving yards.

“They’re not playing like rookies, none of them are,” said [safety Earl] Thomas, himself a first-year player.

“Me being young, I know how hard it is in the league with all the stuff they throw at you, but (their success) is a credit to the coaching over there and a credit to the players catching on.”

With a strong finish to the season, both Blount and Williams could hit 1,000 yards. The road is easier for Williams, who has played a full season and has 888 yards. Blount’s at 777 in just 11 games.

Now Joe was too curious and searched the Internet for the 1968 tandem that the Bucs rookies could match. Joe couldn’t figure it out. Anybody know?

Update: 2:40 p.m. – OK. Joe sees the Bucs officially mentioned this factoid a couple of days ago, but they were referring to Bob Trumpy and Paul Robinson of Cincinnati in the AFL, not the NFL. This is what drove Joe nuts — searching for an answer in NFL stats. 

As promised, Joe is offering up Christmas morning answers to some select reader questions. Just for kicks, Joe solicited queries recently and here are responses to some:

Q. With Albert Haynesworth being on the outs with Lord Shanahan I think it would be worthwhile for the Bucs to float a fourth or third round pick to Washington to pick up Haynesworth’s team friendly contract.  I know that he is a petulant child in a beast body with tons of baggage, but he has been embarrassed and could be looking to prove that he remains a force in a 4-3 defense.  I think the upgrade to our pass rush would far outweigh the diva attitude and with the structure of his contract cutting him would not be out of the question in case of a serious meltdown.  Am I crazy or does this make good football sense?   Thanks for your great Bucs coverage and hard work,

Chris Kaelin in Lakeland

A. Chris, first thanks for e-mailing and thanks as always for reading Joe. It seems you have answered your own questions. If a guy is going to get paid as much as Facestomper is and he still whines and complains and bitches and basically quit on his team, what’s to suggest he won’t do that with the Bucs for less cash? Facestomper was hardly a force with the Titans… until it came contract time. Dude has a bad history of being a malcontent. Remember his own teammates turned on him in Washington? That’s pretty significant.

Also, look at what Mark Dominik has been able to do with the draft. Facestomper will only be a quick fix at best. Maybe Facestomper will be around three years if all the stars align properly. The way Dominik is drafting players, he could get a guy for much less cash in the third round and that guy will be with the Bucs for five years or more and likely get more production than Facestomper.

The Bucs are already loaded at tackle. GMC has shown he can play in the league. When healthy, Brian Price has shown he can be disruptive and Roy Miller isn’t all that horrible if put in the proper scheme.

Joe sees where you are coming from, but just say no to Facestomper.

Q. Hello Joe, Im a big fan of you and your website, I read it daily like some people read the bible. Is this the offseason where Team Glazer will spend and trade to put this team over the top for next year and beyond? An if they did that who would you like to see them get rid of, aquire via trade or free agency. Will wait for a response. Thanks. GO BUCS.

Justin

A. Millions of people can quote the bible, so Joe hopes you’re not that obsessed with JoeBucsFan.com. But that’s very flattering nonetheless. As for Team Glazer’s offseason plans, Joe thinks there’s still two games left that will be judged to determine the team’s next steps. If the Bucs lose the next two convincingly and finish 8-8, then the reality is they would have closed the season 1-5 with a ton of question marks and without beating a winning team. If they go 10-6 and make the playoffs, and some of the young studs make more big strides, then it’s a slighly different ballgame. You get the idea.

As Joe’s written countless times, if the salary cap returns next year, Team Glazer will be miles below the minimum spending level. So they’ll have to spend a bunch of offseason dollars just to reach the bottom.

Joe thinks all the “lasting contender” stuff the organization talks about is a nice sound bite. But if this young team has a decent finish, Joe thinks Team Glazer would be nuts to not make moves toward a deep playoff run in 2011. … Too early to talk specifics, but it would sure be nice to get a great change of pace back in here (not Huggins) and upgrades at defensive end, among other spots.

Q. Joe, as my house nears foreclosure and I search for a better job, your site really is a great escape from the day. I’m glad I found it in the summer. This is really the only place I go for Bucs news now. I figure if you don’t think I need to know about it, then it’s probably bullsh*t anyway. 🙂  … I’m wondering how you manage the site. Are you making a living off this? Is this all fun for you? And does One Buc Place like this site? Peace.

Ricardo in South Tampa

A. Good luck keeping your house, Ricardo. You might want to get some legal help with that. And thanks for your loyal readership. As some readers know, “Joe”  is written by two professional sportswriters. It’s definitely a daily effort, but a part-time one. This is a profitible business worth a lot of money, but does each Joe make minimum wage here? No. This is a labor of love that is fun nearly all the time. As for the folks at One Buc Place, Joe gets his share of feedback from over there — good, bad and ugly. Joe’s gotten some of his best laughs hearing from players wives and family members. Like Joe politely says to everyone, if you don’t like it here, go somewhere else.

Q. Joe, do you feel like a thief linking to other people’s stories and videos? Pretty sad that you think that’s interesting. You’re pathetic.

Phil in Palm Harbor

A.  Thief? Really? Joe doesn’t know a sportswriter in the world that doesn’t want people to link to his or her work and comment on it. Joe produces plenty of his own material — you’re obviously not reading regularly — but is committed to delivering Bucs fans team news from all sources. Sometimes Joe will use another’s story to introduce his own take, as well. Aggregate sites, that link to and comment on published work, are commonplace in politics, sports, business, etc. So get over yourself.

Q.  I always read you slobbering on Twitter about Courtney the Bartender who you claim looks like Brooklyn Decker. Why don’t you get her picture and share it with all of us you drunk?

— Jim in Brandon.

A. Jim,

What’s not to love about Courtney the Bartender? The girl is hot, looks exactly like Brooklyn Decker, wears minimal clothing while working at a St. Pete chicken wing joint, professes her love for football and quenches Joe’s thirst with cold beer without Joe having to ask for one. That’s Joe’s perfect woman.

But Joe respects women, no matter how much he may ogle over them. Joe’s not about to get a compromising photo of Courtney the Bartender bending over in various poses pouring beer while she’s working. That’s just wrong.

If the mental picture of Brooklyn Decker wearing limited clothing serving you cold beer as if reading your mind, and talking football isn’t enough, Joe doesn’t know what to say.

Earlier in the week Joe got the impression Bucs coaches were reaching for excuses not to play LeGarrette Blount in the fateful loss to the rebuilding since 1957 Detroit Lions.

It seems Joe wasn’t the only one who smelled this stench.

Video star Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune nearly blows a gasket in this TBO Bucs vlog, co-hosted by his colleague Woody Cummings, railing on the same thing Joe took Bucs assistant coaches to task for.

Richardson, too, believes the Bucs coaches should just man up and admit they, in so many words, dropped the ball in keeping Blount on the bench in critical situations.

Check out Richardson’s point-by-point breakdown and see if you agree.

Gregg Rosenthal has some harsh words for Bucs coach Raheem Morris in this NBCSports.com video, even going so far as to invoke the words “Herm Edwards” over the way the Bucs played last week.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

What is Frank Okam looking at?

There are no defensive tackles under the tree.

Raheem Morris will keep on rolling with Al Woods and Frank Okam learning on the job.

These men must step up and improve not just to win Sunday but, hopefully, to prepare for the game of their young careers in New Orleans on Jan. 2.

At his news conference today, Raheem said he expects improvement from his former practice squad guys that no mortal expected to be attempting to plug the middle for the Bucs. 

“They got no choice but to get better,” Raheem said. “You’re talking about a bunch of guys who went from really doing two reps in practice or three reps in practice a day to going out there and getting 40 reps in a game. We’ll see improvement with just those guys practicing and playing and preparing every day.”

It’s nearly Christmas and Joe’s going to drink the pewter and red egg nog for a couple of days. Yes, they have to get better. They should get better. Perhaps they are better already. Maybe Gerald McCoy can talk to God again and put in a good word for them.

In case there’s nothing under your tree, Joe’s going to answer your questions for Christmas.

What a gift! 

Now is your time to hit Joe up with all kinds of questions. Bucs stuff, media stuff, questions about JoeBucsFan.com, Joe’s obsession with cheerleaders, whatever. Joe’s going to answer some select questions here on Christmas morning.

E-mail your query to joe@JoeBucsFan.com. You must put “Ask Joe” in the subject line, otherwise Joe will delete your e-mail thinking it’s some sort of covert penile enlargement solicitation.  … Joe needs no such products.

Joe reserves the right to edit all e-mails to make you sure you don’t sound stupid.

Now Joe’s not one to be talking NFL draft when his team could be playing a virtual playoff game in New Orleans in nine days.

But, since eye-Rah! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune brought it up, Joe will go there. Kaufman penned a piece stating he’s sure the Bucs will make drafting a top young defensive end their priority in the 2011 draft.

When the 2011 draft rolls around, the Buccaneers will be looking for an edge.Even if a lockout takes place this spring, the NFL has already announced the draft will proceed as scheduled in April. One year after addressing the interior of their defensive line, the Buccaneers will undoubtedly focus on upgrades at defensive end. … 

Unlike last year, the Bucs won’t be picking No. 3 in the draft. They figure to be sitting near the middle of the opening round, meaning some of the top-rated defensive ends could already be off the board by the time they turn in their selection.

There are other pressing needs—linebacker, offensive line—but landing an impact defensive end is the top priority for a young, hungry club on the rise.

Joe’s wouldn’t be so sure about the Bucs snatching a defensive end high in the draft. The Bucs might be much better off investing in a pair of established ends in free agency and grabbing a hard-hitting linebacker or safety early.

So much will ride on Ronde Barber’s decision to return and whether the Bucs take the mindset of trying to make a Super Bowl run coming off a winning season, or just being content to take one more step on their perceived “lasting contender” ladder.

Will the Bucs raise a white flag (again) Sunday and bench running back LeGarrette Blount when they need him the most? The theme of this breakdown of the Seahawks-Bucs with Pat Kirwan and Jason Horowitz is Blount. Watch and listen to how Blount will (or won’t) allow the Bucs to win Sunday in this CBSSports.com video.

You’ve all read THE PESSIMIST, who spews his Bucs-related anger like no other. But Joe also wants you to know THE OPTIMIST. 

THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the team goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.

THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t.

I recall a critic who once said I can’t write an article without talking about Derrick Brooks or Warren Sapp. I hope that person doesn’t catch this one, because I’m going to mention one of those guys and more!

Because we are not the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, we ARE allowed to make excuses. Now whether we make them or not, the Bucs had the Lions beat. There was no excuse needed for that game. You play with a little more fire and throw some caution to the wind, and we’re talking playoff opponents now instead of playoff chances.

But when your injured reserve list could be the starting lineup on a fantasy football roster, its time to stop calling it an excuse and calling it a reason. Think I’m kidding? Here is the Bucs IR team line up. “Now starting on defense…”

DE Brandon Gilbeaux, DT Brian Price, DT Gerald McCoy, DE Kyle Moore, LB Jon Alston, LB Quincy Black, DB Aqib Talib, S Cody Grimm, S Tanard Jackson (suspended reserve)!

Not a bad lineup, huh? Of course like their real counterparts, this team would get a penalty for not enough men on the field, theres only 9 there. Somehow I get the feeling that won’t be a problem by Week 17. Maybe some of the offensive players like Jeff Faine, Davin Joseph, Demar Dotson and Kareem Huggins can switch to defense!

I’m kidding to a degree, but every knowledgeable Bucs fan watching the Lions march down the field not once but twice was thinking the very same thing. This team has finally felt the damage of all the injuries.

It was amazing for the Bucs to lose Tanard Jackson and replace him with Cody Grimm. It’s incredible that Jeff Faine and Davin Joseph can go down and be replaced by Jeremy Zuttah, Ted Larson and Derek Hardman. Simply put, that is fantastic coaching. But it can only go so far; you can be amazed how far rubber bands will stretch before they breaks.

The really remarkable part of the whole situation is the ‘negative Bucs fan’ guy who doesn’t believe that injuries should be used as an excuse. Like I said, I can understand why Raheem Morris doesn’t want his team to use them, but as for us, well it’s really easy to understand.

How far do you think the Bucs would have gone in 2002 had Dexter Jackson been declared ineligible. Then, John Lynch lost for the season. Say goodbye to Greg Spires, and bye-bye to Booger McFarland. See ya later Brian Kelly, and Warren Sapp. Nice to know ya Cosey Coleman and John Wade. Finally, have a good time Alshermond Singleton. Somehow 12-4 would be a stretch, heck 8-6 in week 15 would be a major undertaking, just like it is now.

To clarify, so there is no misunderstanding, I do not assume that the 2010 Bucs players on IR are anywhere near as good as their 2002 Super Bowl counterparts. Not even close, but for comparisons sake, those are the same positions that got hit. Kind of makes you think, huh?

Truth be told, I would not be surprised if the Bucs can compete against the Saints in week 17 if they can make it that far and still be in contention. It seems it takes these young players that the Bucs are plugging in a week or two to learn the nuances of their position.

But when you continue to play musical chairs with the Bucs starters, there is going to be a limit to how far the Bucs can go before they, like the proverbial rubber band, just snap.

If the St. Louis Lambs get past Troy Smith and the 49ers at home in a 1 o’clock game Sunday, that means the Seahawks will have absolutely nothing to play for against the Bucs.

NOTHING!

When Seattle lines up on the field in Tampa, they’ll know their fate. With a St. Louis win, no matter what happens against the Bucs, the Seahawks and Rams will play for the NFC West title the following week in Seattle.

This could become beautiful news for the Bucs.

Yeah, Joe knows all these NFL players are all professionals allegedly playing their hearts out, but you can’t tell Joe that a crappy team like the Seahawks playing a meaningless game on the road the day after Christmas 4,000 miles from home is going to give its all.  

That ain’t happening no matter how hard Seahawks coach Pete Carroll tried to spin it to the Seattle Times.

Q: It would be human nature wouldn’t it, to have a let down?

Carroll: “That’s why you ask those questions. Yeah. That’s why you ask that. That’s what everybody thinks. We don’t want to be normal in that regard. We don’t want to be human nature. We want to be above and beyond, and that’s part of it. That’s how you separate. When you are able to do that, you are able to take the variables, the factor, the media, the hype, the buildup, the matchups, all of that stuff, and leave that aside and play the game that you’re capable of playing, that’s the challenge. And that’s one of the great challenges that I’ve come to really covet and teaching and trying to stand for, and then once you get there, it’s a very special place to be. We’re not there yet. We’re learning. We’re learning how. But these next couple weeks will have a chance to kick us into the right position where you start to deal with what it’s like to be on top and what it’s like to be a champion. It’s exciting to me.”

Nice try, Pete. Not sure what the hell you just said, but Joe’s hoping your team is as clear thinking as you are.

Joe hopes Josh Freeman gets to try and execute a fake spike on the Seahawks at the close of the first half. That would surely re-ignite Carroll’s post traumatic stress disorder.

There’s no doubt feet-obsessed Jets head coach Rex Ryan wishes he never bought a video camera and preferred more mainstream erotica.

The blitz he’s getting — and will get — from the New York media is 10 times as nasty as what Josh Freeman saw from the Jets last year.

Freeman recovered. But Joe doubts Ryan will. Although if cross-dressing biter Marv Albert could emerge unscathed, than anything is possible. 

Joe couldn’t care less about the Jets, but Ryan’s foot fetish escapades made their way into Raheem Morris’ news conference today. Veteran Tampa Tribune NFL scribe eye-RAH! Kaufman was determined to give Raheem ample opportunity to open up about any sexual fixations he might have.

eye-RAH! Kaufman: Raheem, the New York papers are having a field day with Rex Ryan, you got any fetishes you want to own up to?

Raheem Morris: I can’t talk about my guy, man. My guy, that’s his own personal business. And I know he chose to put it out there publicly, but Rex is a great football coach and he’ll continue to be that way.

eye-RAH! Kaufman: What do you got?

Raheem: (Chuckling) What’s wrong with you, Ira?

 So there you have it. Raheem didn’t confirm or deny any fetishes. Joe will keep an eye on this developing story.